NEWTON, N.C. — Suspended Sprint Cup driver Jeremy Mayfield lost his bid Wednesday to invalidate the search warrant used to find alleged stolen goods on his property, a search that has led to several criminal charges.

The confidential informant for the search warrant was John K. Franklin, who died in a motorcycle accident following a police chase last year and had a lengthy criminal record, according to court testimony during the 45-minute hearing.

“The application submitted for the search warrant is sufficient to establish probable cause,” the judge ruled, later adding, “(Franklin’s information) was but one factor to be considered.”

If Mayfield had won his motion Wednesday, the charges most likely would have been dropped because the search uncovered evidence used to indict Mayfield, who was suspended by NASCAR in May 2009 for a failed drug test that Mayfield still disputes.

Mayfield faces five felony charges in Catawba County and four in nearby Caldwell County from the Nov. 1 search. The charges total more than 27 years in prison but the maximum sentences are highly unlikely.

The search resulted in one charge of possession of methamphetamine, three possession of stolen goods charges, one charge of obtaining property under false pretense and four larceny charges.

Some of the items found on Mayfield’s former 400-acre property were from burglaries reported by Red Bull Racing and Fitz Motorsports. Other items were furniture items from DEA Ventures.

The search was conducted after a 20-day investigation following information given to authorities by Franklin, according to testimony from Catawba County Sherriff’s Department Lieutenant Aaron Kirk, the only witness during the 45-minute hearing.

Franklin’s own home was being searched Oct. 12, 2011, and at that time he began giving up information about robberies, including those of Red Bull Racing and Fitz Motorsports that Franklin said he participated in with Mayfield and others, Kirk stated during the hearing.

Kirk said that there were no promises of leniency for Franklin, whom Kirk admitted had a lengthy criminal record that included a plea agreement to a drug charge.

Kirk verified the information Franklin gave him through police reports of the burglaries. He did not use any other witnesses.

The fact that investigators did not use other witnesses and that Franklin did not have any history of being a confidential source in the past should have required investigators to talk to more people before obtaining the search warrant, Mayfield attorney Jones Byrd told the court.

“There’s nothing else out there to corroborate Mr. Mayfield’s involvement,” Byrd said. “You’ve got a person in hot water … (who) just starts pointing the finger at other people.”

Less than a year after the search warrant was executed, Franklin died following a high-speed police chase, according to the hearing testimony. Police found methamphetamines and scales in a compartment in Franklin’s motorcycle. A passenger on Franklin’s motorcycle also was killed.

His death led Iredell County — where the alleged Red Bull and Fitz burglaries happened — to drop its 10 charges against Mayfield.

But the charges have not been dropped in the other cases. Prosecutor Kyle Smith told the judge that no other witnesses were talked to because of Mayfield’s notoriety and that Franklin understood that he was admitting to crimes he himself committed by giving detectives information for the search warrant.

This won’t be the last time Franklin’s credibility will be questioned. It will be a key part of the trial, Mayfield attorney David Freedman said following the hearing.

“We’re looking to go to trial,” Freedman said. “This case was premised upon Mr. Franklin, … someone who has a very extensive record.

“Mr. Mayfield has never been in the court system but for a speeding ticket prior to this.”

Mayfield has won five Sprint Cup races in 433 career starts and made the Chase for the Sprint Cup in 2004-05. He was trying to run his own team before being suspended by NASCAR in 2009 for a drug test that he said was a false positive for a mixture of allergy medication and the prescription drug Adderall.

He unsuccessfully sued NASCAR to get reinstated and later alleged that NASCAR worked with authorities on the cases that resulted in his criminal charges.